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August 14, 2006
The Spike Lee Joint
I've got four tickets to the New Orleans premier of Spike Lee's documentary, When the Levees Broke, and I'm kind of torn about what to do with them.
Originally I was going to take the whole family. But now Gina is out of town on business, and so it would just be me and the two kids, and I'm starting to wonder if this is a good thing to take the youngest to see. He's nine, and it's only rated a modest TVPG, but the more I think about it, the more I think that it's TVPG for some random kid in Ohio who has never been to New Orleans, doesn't know anybody here, and whose only reaction would be "whoa, look at the wrecked houses!" and "wow, that lady sure cusses a lot!"
What would the effect be on a nine-year-old boy who is so far adjusting to life pretty well in his new home? Would I be doing harm, subjecting him to four hours of The Passion of the Crescent City, when I know he sees those debris piles and empty houses and search team X's on so many houses in his own neighborhood? Would he think of the movie every time his parents started talking about the latest tropical depression in the Atlantic?
I want him to understand what happened here. But there is such a thing as too much reality for a kid that age, and although thousands of kids his age have suffered a whole hell of a lot in the past year, there's no point in inflicting worry on him needlessly just because I'm a big fan of Spike Lee.
But if he can't go, and I don't have a sitter, then I can't go and my teenage daughter can't go. In which case I should just give these tickets away to somebody who can go.
Or am I making a big deal out of nothing?
What to do, what to do...
Posted by ray at August 14, 2006 1:37 PM | Permalink
Categories: [katrina | movies | new orleans ]
Comments
I go through the same internal dialog with most things either of my kids will see. Liam's a year or two older than my son.
My take for what it's worth: I wouldn't take him if I were in your shoes.
Posted by: ttrentham at August 14, 2006 1:58 PM
I'd follow your gut, and hold off on letting him see it until you've been able to see it -- and judge its content -- for yourself. It seems to me that your kids have had a lot of adjusting to do these last couple of months, and are doing great. If you're at all worried that this film could knock any of that adjustment process off track then it's simply not worth the risk. All IMHO, of course.
Side note: Interesting NOLA-related article in Reason, today: http://www.reason.com/rauch/081406.shtml
Hope you're doing well -- the Halloween party is a go for this year, by the way, so if you find yourselves needing an out-of-town weekend come October come on back to Austin for a visit!
Posted by: Gregg P. at August 14, 2006 2:33 PM
You should take me.
As for the kids...well...I wouldn't take my 4 year old, but I honestly don't know what to tell you. Let me put it this way, he's seen the stuff on TV; this would be unadulturated, and probably more pure. So I'd probably rather him see this than some Anderson Cooper prelude to more phonto ops...
Posted by: ashley Morris at August 14, 2006 3:35 PM
My first response was, take him.
My second was, wait, i wouldn't take Ruby, and she's close to the same age, AND not easily upset. I'm not sure why, though, if that's just because I know how much trouble she has when she's distressed.
I guess you gotta trust the gut. If he wants to go and you want to take him, take him. If your instinct is not, you're most likely right about it.
Posted by: Elvis at August 14, 2006 5:27 PM
I'm wondering where you are with this. I would take my nine year old (if I had one) but I wouldn't take yours for all the reasons you list. I can't make any promises, but I might can help find a sitter for you. Michael is working (have you made it to Manale's yet?) but he has some girl friends (as opposed to girlfriends) there. It's worth a shot. One of them lives in that B&B with the French name that's right there, maybe even in your block. Beau something I think. Her parents own it. Anyway, shoot me an email. I'll call him a little later this afternoon. He's not likely up yet. I would hate for you to miss this. I want a report. Gotta run to the post office. Will comment on the tatoo pics later! ;)
Posted by: Sophmom at August 15, 2006 1:03 PM
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